PA Senate Passes Bill To Allow Teachers To Carry Guns Into Schools

Pennsylvania’s Senate just passed a bill that would allow teachers to carry concealed firearms to work with them. Apparently, teachers need to police their schools as well as educating our children. I foresee a whole new market for gunslinging teachers: holsters to hold not only your weapon but dry erase markers and laser pointers, as well.

The argument is that if teachers are armed, they would be better equipped to protect their students and themselves from mentally ill, active shooters. Never mind that an FBI study examining active shooter incidents between 2000 and 2013 found that 20 of the 21 bystanders who successfully apprehended the shooter were unarmed. Sans gun. But, what does the FBI know?

There is also the very real concern that children may accidentally come into possession of the guns. I know, I know – ALL teachers are responsible ALL the time. Let’s get real: teachers are tired. They are responsible for entirely too many children in a nine-hour chunk of the day. Mistakes happen – even teachers are human.

The Pennsylvania State Educators’ Association, a union made up of over 180,000 Pennsylvania teachers, released a statement expressing their opposition.

Our Association does oppose arming teachers, education support professionals, and other school staff whose primary responsibility should continue to be educating students, not policing school buildings and grounds with firearms.

Who thought it was a good idea to arm teachers? Apparently, the sponsor of the bill, Rep. Donald White (R-PA) does, as well as Donald Trump. On the campaign trail, he was all in opposition of gun-free school zones. So far, he hasn’t done anything in regards to those promises – we know it was all rhetoric to get the NRA vote in his pocket. Well, we HOPE it was all rhetoric.

When the bill was introduced in April, Governor Tom Wolf said that he intended to veto the bill if it came before him. Of course, it still has to get through the House, but it’s scary that it wasn’t dead on arrival in the first place.